STATEMENT ON CHARGES BEING BROUGHT FOR THE MURDER OF FORT HOOD VICTIM PVT. FRANCHESKA VELEZ’S UNBORN BABY
Washington,
Nov 13, 2009 -
Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05) issued the following statement today, calling for additional charges to be brought against the Fort Hood murderer for the death of Pvt. Francheska Velez’s unborn baby.
“Much of the focus of the Fort Hood, Texas tragedy has been on 13 victims, however, the heinous act really took the lives of 14 people. Pvt. Francheska Velez died, as did the unborn child she was carrying when she was killed. Both Pvt. Velez and her baby are recognized under federal law, but so far, charges have only been brought for the murder of Pvt. Francheska Velez. Charges should also be brought for the murder of her unborn child.
“In 2004, as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, I oversaw the passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act in Congress and its enactment into law. Under that law, if an unborn child is injured or killed during the commission of crimes of violence already defined under federal law, including violent crimes defined under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, prosecutors can bring two charges, one on behalf of the mother, the other on behalf of the unborn victim.
“The criminal law is not just a schedule of punishments, but a reflection of society’s moral values. The law embodies America’s respect for the unborn.
“I would ask that as military prosecutors proceed with the case against Nidal Hasan, they would respect America’s values and also recognize and bring about the appropriate charges for the murder of Pvt. Francheska Velez’s unborn child.
“My thoughts and prayers remain with the families and the friends of each victim as we work to bring justice upon the cowardly monster who inflicted such terrible pain on our brave men and women in uniform.”
###
text size 
